Tony and Carmela Soprano were never going to be Mike and Carol Brady, and that was just fine with fans of "The Sopranos." But Edie Falco's Carmela was an indispensable asset in shaping who Tony was, and wanted to become -- and in the process helped Gandolfini humanize his mobster boss. They fought plenty, but underneath it all they loved each other, and never split up.

HBO via AP

Edie Falco portrays Carmela Soprano and James Gandolfini is Tony Soprano in a scene from one of the last episodes of the hit HBO dramatic series "The Sopranos."

Falco, who now stars on Showtime's "Nurse Jackie," released a statement Thursday morning on Gandolfini's untimely passing, saying: "I am shocked and devastated by Jim's passing. He was a man of tremendous depth and sensitivity, with a kindness and generosity beyond words. I consider myself very lucky to have spent 10 years as his close colleague.

"My heart goes out to his family," she added. "As those of us in his pretend one hold on to the memories of our intense and beautiful time together. The love between Tony and Carmela was one of the greatest I've ever known."